Self-locking harness-rack.



PATENTBD MAY 1, 1905.

N. LOFSTAM. SELF LOCKING HARNESS RACK.

APPLICATION FILED DBC.5. 1905.

NELS LOFSAM, OF DETROIT CITY, MINNESOTA.

SELF-LOCKING HARNESS-RACK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

'ratenten May 1, 1906.

Application filed December 5, 1905. Serial No, 290,414.

i'o all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NELs LOFSTAM, a citi zen of the United States, residing at Detroit City, in the county of Becker and State of Minnesota, have invented new and useful Improvements in Self-Locking Harness-Racks, of which the following is a specification. ,-1- This invention relates to improvements in devices for holding, supporting, and locking in position harness, saddles, &c., when hung therein, and has for its objects the provision of a suitable rack or holder for receiving and holding harness, saddles, etc., in position so that the same will not become tangled, and for securing the same therein so that it will not be jostled or kicked to the floor by the animal in whose proximity it is hung or removed therefrom and stolen or misplaced.

W'ith these ends in view the invention consists in the novel combination, construction, and arrangement of the several parts of the device, as hereinafterdescribed,illustrated in the drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device open to receive the harness, etc., and having portions of its surface broken away to show its interior construction. 2 is a similar view showing the device closed to prevent the falling or removal of the harness or other article from the rack. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the saddle clamp or holder. Fig. 4 is a view of the device, showing the saddle clamp or holder in position therein. Fig. 5 shows a modification of the device, and Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the plate 9.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a portion of a wall or other suitable support to which is secured a suitable anglebracket 2. This angle-bracket 2 consists of a vertical arm 3, having a groove or longitudinal channel 4 therein, and a horizontal arm 5, which horizontal arm is provided With a longitudinal groove or channel 6, connecting with the vertical channel 4 in the arm 3.

The nuineral 7 indicates a suitable pulley mounted in the upper end of the groove or channel 4 in the arm 3, and S a similar pulley mounted in the lower end of said groove or channel 4 at its liunction with the groove or channel 6 of the horizontal arm 5, as shown.

The numeral 9 indicates a plate of less length than the arm 5 and is secured thereto under the channel 6 for the purpose of inclosing the same. The forward end of this plate is provided, preferably, with a V-shape notch 10 and a pin l0 on the side edge thereof, as shown, Vfor a purpose hereinafter stated.

The numeral 12 indicates an arm or lever hinged to the vertical arm 3 of the bracket 2 in any suitable manner to permit it to be swung upward and yet prevent it going below a horizontal position when swung down to normal, preferably the character of hinge shown at 13, wherein the rear end of said a rm or lever will abut against the vertical arm 3 to form a stop to the `further downward movement of said arm or lever 12 as is evident. The forward or outer end of this arm or lever 12 is preferably bifurcated, providing a fork 14, and within this fork 14 is pivoted the long arm 15 of an angle-arm or latch 16 at point of said long arm 15 below the angle 17. The short arm 1S of the latch or angle-arm 16 sets over the hinged arm 12 and is held in proper position by a guide or staple 19', as shown. The lower end of the arm 15 is provided with a suitable catch 20 for a purpose hereinafter stated. In the lower end of this arm 15 below the catch 20 is a suitable opening for the attachment of a padlock or other suitable means for locking the arm 15 to the horizontal arm 5, as is evident.

The numeral 21 indicates a suitable rope or cable secured to the hinged arm 12 about midway its length, passing over the pulley '7 in the upper end of the arm 3, down through the groove or channel 4 therein, beneath the pulley 8 and along through the channel or groove 6 in the horizontal arm 5, and out over the V-shape notch 10 of the plate 9.

The numeral 22 indicates a suitable knob or stop on the rope or cable for a purpose hereinafter stated.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modification wherein the horizontal arm 5 is provided with an upwardly-extending standard 23 for more securelyr holding the harness in position on said arm 5 and which when the device is closed sets into or projects through a slot or opening in the hinged arm 12 and will prevent absolutely the harness being dragged or pulled from the device when closed. It is evident that the horizontal arm 5 may be provided with two or more of these standards 23, if desired; but one, I believe, will be sufcient for the purpose of holding the article placed therein in position.

When it is desired to hold a saddle in the holder or rack, I attach thereto the adjustable saddle clamp or holder 24, which may be IOO IIO

so adjusted as to bear firmly againstthe seat of the saddle when thedevice is closed.

- The operation of the device is as follows: When it is desired to hang harness or other articles in this rack or holder, the arm 15 is pushed back and the lower end of the rope or cable 21 pulled out through the notch 10 and secured therein, or the end of the rope Vor cable 21 may be wound upon the pin 10 This pulling of the rope or cable will raise the arm 12 and the latch or angle-arm 16 attached thereto to the position shown in Fig.

1. The harness is then placed on the horizontal arm 5 in proper position. The knot 22 in the rope or cable is then withdrawn from engagement with the notch in the plate 9, when the arm 12 will assume its normal position, and the latch or angle-arm 16 pivoted thereto will at the same time be lowered, when the lower end `of the arm will pass into and through the slot 11 in the outer end of the arm 5, and the catch 20 will engage the forward edge of said slot and be held against withdrawal. If desired, the arm l5 may then be locked to the arm 5 by a padlock or other suitable locking device.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with an angle-bracket having a vertical and a horizontal arm, a groove in said bracket, and pulleys in said groove, of a vertically-swinging hinged arm, a latch or angle-arm pivoted to said hinged arm and adapted to engage the horizontal arm of said bracket, and a cable secured to said hinged arm and passing through said groove and over the pulleys therein, for the purpose of raising and lowering said arm and the latch secured thereto out of and into engagement with the horizontal arm of the bracket.

2. In a device of the character described,

the combination with an angle-bracket having a vertical and a horizontal arm, said horizontal arm having at its outer end anopening or slot therein, of a hinged verticallyswinging arm having its outer end bifurcated, a latch or angle-arm pivoted insaid bifurcated end, the lower end of said latch being provided with a catch and the short arm thereof being confined by a suitable guide, and means for raising and lowering said vertically-swinging arm and the latch or angle-arm pivoted thereto into and out of engagement with the horizontal arm of the bracket.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with an angle-bracket having a vertical and a horizontal arm, a standard on said horizontal arm, and a groove or channel extending through said bracket, of a vertically-swinging hinged arm, a latch pivoted thereto and adapted to engage the horizontal arm, and means for raising and lowering said swinging arm out of and into engagement with said horizontal arm.

4:. In a device of the character described, the combination with an angle-bracket having a vertical and a horizontal arm, a standard on said horizontal arm, and a groove or channel extending through said bracket, of a vertically-swinging hinged arm, a latch pivoted thereto and adapted to engage the horizontal arm, a seat in said swinging arm adapted to receive the upper end of the. standard on the horizontal arm, and means for raising and lowering said swinging arm out of and into engagement with the horizontal arm and standard thereon.

In testimony whereof I aHiX my signature in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

NELS LOFSTAM.

I/Vitnesses FRANK RICHARDSON, CARRIE HORAK. 

